Tag: private blend

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Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Shanghai Lily Fragrance Review

tom-ford-shanghai-lily
* Sharp pepper and clove is the initial burst.

* Quite quickly, less than five minute on, a creamy lily flower starts to bloom into focus.  The spice is still there but acts as a contrast to make the lily seem sweeter.

* The interplay of sweet and spicy continues as cloves and wood contrast with tuberose and rose. 

* Though it starts with quite a punch, it quiets down as the interplay continues.

* The base of vanilla, sweet incense, and amber is grounded by a dry wood.

Summary: I described Fleur de Chine as pretty much a Southern belle who want to college to get her MRS degree.  Shanghai Lily is a bawdy broad who speaks her mind and makes her presence known.  She is sweet and loving, yet sassy and aggressive at the same time.   Although floral and sweet, it’s not too much for a guy to pull off. It’s loud, but not so overbearing that it wouldn’t work in an office setting.  It is quite sexy, though, and guys who wear it might discover it getting stolen by a girlfriend.  Longevity is above average at over 12 hours. Of course, I wish it was more direct and in your face – like the earlier Private Blends, but of the Atelier d’Orient Collection it is the only one that I see myself enjoying. 

Other opinions:

Persolaise

Best Things in Beauty

Bois de Jasmin

Kafkaesque

Perfume Posse

London Beauty Review

Ca Fleure Bon

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Fleur de Chine Fragrance Review

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* Surprisingly, Fleur De Chine starts with a bouquet of flowers mixed together.  Try as I might, I can’t ID the individual flowers aside from a light rose.

* This is a compliment that’s going to sound like a dis.  It smells like really expensive, ultraluxurious shampoo.

* The flowers stay present as fruit and tea notes come forward.  

* The middle section conjures images of a polite tea date, with fresh flowers and juicy fruit.

* Base notes of amber and cedar come in as the scent becomes quite sheer.

Summary: If Fleur de Chine was a person, she would be the very proper lady who is always dressed impeccably with perfect manners – very classy and appropriate.  I went to Vanderbilt for college and this reminds me of the girls who wore Laura Ashley to football dates.  When they grew up to be proper Southern women in the Junior League, Fleur de Chine could be their scent.  Fleur de Chine isn’t bad, its just not amazing or mind-blowing or worth the $210 price tag for 50ml.  However, if you are looking to splurge for your mom, this would be a safe scent that they would enjoy.  

Other opinions:

Best Things in Beauty

Kafkaesque

Persolaise

Ca Fleure Bon

The Candy Perfume Boy

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Azure Private Blend Lime Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-azure-lime

* Kicks off with a bright, refreshing, and bold lime with a bit of other citrus in the mix.  

* It’s fruity, tangy, and sweet.  Almost like pouring the juice on your arm but without the stickiness.

* Lime stays in the forefront for about 20 minutes before it begins to recede, with a sweet vanilla and light florals coming into the mix.

* The florals just kind of sit there – they are nice and pretty but feel kind of, I don’t know, blah.

* After the florals wane, the base of generic wood and bland musk lasts for a few hours.

Summary:  
Yes, citrus notes don’t usually last long as top notes in fragrance, but twenty minutes? Come on… If you are looking for niche fragrance version of premature ejaculation, you’ve found it.  The lime note, while it lasts, is really good, but for the price of a Tom Ford Private Blend it should last a lot longer (as should the whole scent, 3-4 hours longevity for an edp is bad.)  After the proverbial wad is shot, it becomes a bit generic, floating between that realm of Bath and Body Works and low-end Department Store scents.  Not that there is anything wrong with those kind of scents, but at $200 for 50ML, my expectations are a lot higher.  As a devoted Fordie, I have probably 10 of the Private Blends in my collection and this is one that I rarely reach for – and if I do, it’s to layer with Creed Virgin Island water or as just a quick pick me up.  If Azure Lime was a scent at Bath and Body Works for $20 a bottle, I would STRONGLY recommend it.  At Private Blend pricing, I recommend testing but would think very carefully before investing in a full bottle.

Tom Ford Private Blends are available from Tom Ford boutiques, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Other opinions:

EauMG

Now Smell This

The Scentcritic

Image courtesy of Yahoo.com. No disclaimer needed as I own a bottle.